Policy Topics

Improving Student Achievement: Is Reducing Class Size the Answer?

Author/s:

Eric A. Hanushek

Published Date:

June 1998

Publication:

Policy Brief, Progressive Policy Institute

Silver bullet ideas for school reform come and go, usually warranting little more than passing attention. However, one idea seems to be taking hold among many camps: class size reduction. In light of the attention and support this idea has received, the Progressive Policy Institute asked University of Rochester’s Eric Hanushek - a renowned education scholar - to review the evidence on the impact of class size reduction policies. His analysis follows below.